Wang Lijun used to head Chongqing's police force, and was the right hand man of the politician Bo Xilai.

Bo was the Communist Party's top official in Chongqing, but has been removed from his position and is now being investigated for corruption. His wife Gu Kai Lai was also handed out a suspended death sentence last month for the murder of British businessman Neil Heywood.

The scandal, which has been unfolding since February, has exposed serious divisions within the Chinese Communist Party ahead of a once-in-a-decade leadership change, according to analysts.